From left to right: Jeffrey Wohlhueter-1988, Virginia Franz Weidner-1991, James LaMastra-1993,Kathleen Kelkenberg-Coach, Joyce Nagle Markham-1936, Ellen Lardo Preischel-1988

Joyce Nagle Markham
Class of 1936

Joyce is representing our "veteran" inductees for this year. She played varsity basketball for 4 years and was team captain her senior year. Her team won the league championship in 1933 and 1935. She was also a member of the track team and her relay team won 1st place four consecutive years. Joyce attended Ithaca College where she earned her teaching degree in physical education and played basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball and field hockey.

She taught physical education in the Depew Public Schools from 1941-1946 where she started and coached the girls' bowling team – she also set the pins! Ah – the good ole days!!!

Joyce went on to teach and coach at Silver Creek where she again started and coached the girls' bowling team, was cheerleading advisor and kept stats for boys varsity basketball. For a period of 3 years, she assisted at a basketball camp run by a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. In more recent years, Joyce has been active in the ladies golf and bowling leagues in Silver Springs Shores, Florida.

Ellen Lardo Preischel
Class of 1988

Ellen was a 3-sport athlete – field hockey, basketball and softball – excelling in all 3, earning 6 varsity letters in her high school career and was the recipient of the Kay Palmer Memorial Award in 1988. In basketball, Ellen was a 1st team divisional all-star and coach’s award recipient. She was a hard-working rugged rebounder and scorer on a well-balanced team. She is a member of the 200-point club and 100-rebound club.

Ellen did not play field hockey until her junior year, yet she excelled, providing further evidence of her exceptional athletic ability. As a senior, Ellen was selected as an ECIC Division III 1st team all-star and was an All WNY Honorable Mention. She was a significant member of Eden’s first sectional championship field hockey team in 1987. Playing defense, Ellen still had 9 goals and 13 assists in her senior year.

In softball, Ellen played two years of varsity as a left fielder and received the most improved player award as a junior. Ellen went on to play two years of college basketball at Alfred State. She currently resides in Eden with her husband and two children and works for the Town of Eden.

Jeffrey Wohlhueter
Class of 1988

Jeff was a 3-sport athlete – football, basketball and baseball earning 6 varsity letters. In football, Jeff was a 1st team all-star and selected as offensive player of the year. He played in the North – South All-Star game and still holds school records for receptions in a season with 52 and receiving yardage in a single game with 180 and career receptions with 85.

In basketball, Jeff led the team in assists and at the time was third in career assists. In baseball, Jeff was a slick fielding shortstop, had a batting average of .448, 22 stolen bases and scored 25 runs in his senior season. He was a division 1st all-star and Eden’s player of the year and played in the North-South All-Star game at Pilot field. He was awarded the Dan Hagen award at the conclusion of his athletic career. Jeff attended Mercyhurst College where he played 4 years of varsity football. Currently, Jeff and his family live in North Carolina where he continues to coach youth baseball and softball.

Virginia Franz Weidner
Class of 1991

Ginny was a 3-sport athlete earning 9 Varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and softball and Athlete of the Year honors in 1991. In volleyball, Ginny was captain her senior season and was selected as a 1st team all-star in her junior and senior years and was also most valuable player as a senior.

In basketball, Ginny was a great rebounder and inside scorer. She scored 212 points in her senior season and still holds the single game rebounding record with 23 and is a member of the 200-rebound club. Ginny was captain her senior season and was selected as a 1st team all-star in her junior and senior years and was most valuable player as a senior.

In softball, Ginny was the shortstop, led the team in stolen bases and was named most valuable defensive player. She was captain her senior season and was selected as a 1st team all-star as a junior and senior. As an all around athlete, Ginny was a rugged competitor and a true leader.

Currently, Ginny lives in Hamburg with her husband, Eden Hall of Fame member, Bill Weidner, and their three daughters. Ginny has a passion for physical fitness and participates in local running races.

James LaMastra
Class of 1993

Jamie starred in both swimming and track and earned 8 varsity letters. He swam varsity for three seasons and was an eight time ECIC champion, two-time section VI runner-up in the 200 and 500 freestyle and was a state finalist in the 200 freestyle in his senior season.

At the time of his graduation, Jamie held six school records. He was captain of the swim team in his junior and senior seasons. Additionally, he was a member of the Scholastic gold medal winning 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams in the Empire State Games. In track, Jamie earned four varsity letters and was a member of the school record setting 4x800 relay team in 1993. Jamie was president of the Eden Varsity Club and the Eden Chapter of the National Honor Society. He swam four years at NCAA Division 1 Cleveland State University and was chosen as the President’s Pick for most outstanding student in his graduating class.

Subsequent to his graduation, the CSU athletic department named an award in his honor, The James LaMastra Award for Perseverance. Jamie received his doctoral degree in physical therapy in 2000 from Slippery Rock University where he served as a graduate assistant swim coach.

He has competed in numerous running and triathlon events - twice qualifying and completing the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In 2008, he placed 3rd in the World Championship Half Ironman in Clearwater, Florida. Jamie currently is a self-employed physical therapist consultant and lives in Ohio with his wife and son.

Kathleen Kelkenberg
Coach

Coach Kelkenberg began her career as a health and physical education teacher and coach at Eden in 1972, just as Title IX was becoming law and changing the face of girls’ athletics forever. Much has changed since then and Kathy coached throughout many of those years of change. Over the course of her 34-year career at Eden, she coached girls’ basketball, tennis, swimming, softball, volleyball, field hockey and track and field.

In 1980, she became the first female Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics in the Erie County Interscholastic Conference (ECIC). She served in that capacity until 1985 when she decided to return to what she loved best, teaching and coaching. She continued on in the capacity as department chairperson for health and physical education. In 1991, Kathy became a school counselor and subsequently Director of Guidance until her retirement in 2006. She continued as varsity field hockey coach through the 2002 season.

Coach Kelkenberg’s basketball and field hockey teams each won 4 ECIC championships and her field hockey teams won 3 sectional titles and played in the State semifinals in 1998. Over the course of her career at Eden, Kathy was named Educator of the Year in 1999, ECIC field hockey coach of the year in 2001, received the ECIC Lifetime Award for 30 years of service in 2002 and the Eden Teachers’ Association Award of Appreciation in 2003. A 1972 graduate of SUNY Cortland, in 2004 Kathy was selected as their Western New York Chapter Alumnus of the Year. Currently, Kathy is enjoying retirement and continues to coach at Eden by assisting with field hockey.